Last Report: 10/04/2020
Source: https://dl.ncsbe.gov/?prefix=ENRS/2020_11_03/

Returned and Accepted Mail Ballots

Ballots Returned: 356,297
Return Rate: 29.9%

Mail Ballots Returned and Accepted by Party Registration

Party Returned Ballots Freq. Distribution Requested Ballots Return Rate
Democrats 187,551 52.6 569,674 32.9
Republicans 60,501 17.0 220,775 27.4
Minor 1,098 0.3 5,773 19.0
No Party Affiliation 107,147 30.1 393,828 27.2
TOTAL 356,297 100.0 1,190,050 29.9
All
Dem
Rep
NPA
Minor

Mail Ballots Returned and Accepted by 2016 Vote History

Note: North Carolina provides only aggregate request statistics, so it is impossible to generate ballot return rates by 2016 general vote.
Voted Count Percent
Voted in 2016 General 269,641 75.7
Did Not Vote in 2016 General 86,656 24.3
TOTAL 356,297 100.0

Mail Ballots Returned and Accepted by Race and Ethnicity

Race/Ethnicity Returned Ballots Freq. Distribution Requested Ballots Return Rate
Non-Hispanic White 256,708 72.0 791,399 32.4
Non-Hispanic Black 56,535 15.9 210,317 26.9
Hispanic 6,326 1.8 29,158 21.7
Non-Hispanic Asian American 6,749 1.9 30,096 22.4
Non-Hispanic Native American 1,165 0.3 5,052 23.1
Other/Multiple/Unknown 28,813 8.1 124,028 23.2
TOTAL 356,297 100.0 1,190,050 29.9

Mail Ballots Returned and Accepted by Age

Age Returned Ballots Freq. Distribution Requested Ballots Return Rate
18 to 25 17,206 4.8 102,795 16.7
26 to 40 41,585 11.7 211,497 19.7
41 to 65 119,571 33.6 437,959 27.3
66 and up 168,500 47.3 437,799 38.5
TOTAL 356,297 100.0 1,190,050 29.9

Mail Ballots Returned and Accepted by Gender

Gender Returned Ballots Freq. Distribution Requested Ballots Return Rate
Female 189,712 53.2 643,591 29.5
Male 148,655 41.7 464,194 32.0
Unknown 17,930 5.0 82,265 21.8
TOTAL 356,297 100.0 1,190,050 29.9

Rejected

Ballots Rejected: 6,292
Rejection Rate: 1.7%

Most of these rejected ballots are for the ballot status reason of “WITNESS INFO INCOMPLETE”.

North Carolina election officials are required by state law to follow up with these voters. If you are a North Carolina voter concerned about your mail ballot, you can track the status of your ballot at the North Carolina State Board of Elections website.

In the “All” mail ballot returned statistics, I add the mail ballots that are returned and accepted with the rejected ballots. Dividing the number of rejected by this quantity yields a rejection rate.

Mail Ballots Rejected by Party Registration

Party Rejected Ballots Freq. Distribution All Returned Ballots Rejection Rate
Democrats 3,923 62.3 191,474 2.0
Republicans 1,025 16.3 61,526 1.7
Minor 17 0.3 1,115 1.5
No Party Affiliation 1,327 21.1 108,474 1.2
TOTAL 6,292 100.0 362,589 1.7
All
Dem
Rep
NPA
Minor

Mail Ballots Rejected by Race and Ethnicity

Race/Ethnicity Rejected Ballots Freq. Distribution All Returned Ballots Rejection Rate
Non-Hispanic White 2,745 43.6 259,453 1.1
Non-Hispanic Black 2,606 41.4 59,141 4.4
Hispanic 203 3.2 6,529 3.1
Non-Hispanic Asian American 155 2.5 6,904 2.2
Non-Hispanic Native American 43 0.7 1,208 3.6
Other/Multiple/Unknown 540 8.6 29,353 1.8
TOTAL 6,292 100.0 362,589 1.7
Non-Hispanic White
Non-Hispanic Black

Requested

Ballots Requested: 1,190,050
Request Rate: 16.7%

Mail Ballot Requests by Party Registration

North Carolina registered Democrats have a 348,899 ballot request lead over registered Republicans.

Party Count Percent
Democrats 569,674 47.9
Republicans 220,775 18.6
Minor 5,773 0.5
No Party Affiliation 393,828 33.1
TOTAL 1,190,050 100.0

North Carolina releases an update to the voter registration file each Saturday. The voter registration numbers are from the most recent release and may be slightly dated.

All
Dem
Rep
NPA
Minor

Mail Ballot Requests by Race and Ethnicity

Race Count Percent
Non-Hispanic White 791,399 66.5
Non-Hispanic Black 210,317 17.7
Hispanic 29,158 2.5
Non-Hispanic Asian American 30,096 2.5
Non-Hispanic Native American 5,052 0.4
Other/Multiple/Unknown 124,028 10.4
TOTAL 1,190,050 100.0

Mail Ballot Requests by Age

North Carolina provides mail ballot request data in age ranges inconsistent with other states’ ranges. The age statistics presented here are not included in the national age statistics.

Age Count Percent
18 to 25 102,795 8.6
26 to 40 211,497 17.8
41 to 65 437,959 36.8
66 and up 437,799 36.8
TOTAL 1,190,050 100.0

Mail Ballot Requests by Gender

Gender Count Percent
Female 643,591 54.1
Male 464,194 39.0
Unknown 82,265 6.9
TOTAL 1,190,050 100.0